Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 119.djvu/3372

 119 STAT. 3354

Deadline.

VerDate 14-DEC-2004

07:21 Oct 30, 2006

PUBLIC LAW 109–163—JAN. 6, 2006

(C) the extent to which such differential payments provide appropriate compensation to such hospitals for the provision of such services; and (D) any obstacles or challenges to the development of future modifications to the system of differential payments. (3) An assessment of the adequacy of, including any barrier to, the access of dependent children described in subsection (a)(1) to specialized hospital services for their illnesses under the TRICARE program. (c) ELEMENTS OF OBSTETRICAL CARE SERVICES STUDY.—The study required by subsection (a)(2) shall include the following: (1) A description of the current participation of civilian providers of obstetrical care services in the TRICARE program. (2) An assessment of the current system of payments for obstetrical care services, including an assessment of— (A) the extent to which the calculation of such payments takes into account the complexity and resources required; (B) the extent to which TRICARE payment rates have kept pace with inflation in health care costs; (C) the extent to which such payments provide appropriate compensation to providers of such services; and (D) obstacles or challenges to the development of future improvements to access to high quality obstetrical services, including referral patterns and inclusion of all necessary services within the maximum allowable charge. (3) An assessment of the adequacy of the access of military family members to needed obstetrical care services. (d) REPORT.—Not later than May 1, 2006, the Comptroller General shall submit to the Secretary of Defense and the congressional defense committees a report on the studies required by subsection (a), together with such recommendations, if any, as the Comptroller General considers appropriate for modifications of the current system of differential payments to children’s hospitals and payments for obstetrical care services in order to achieve the objectives described in that subsection. (e) TRANSMITTAL TO CONGRESS.— (1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than November 1, 2006, the Secretary of Defense shall transmit to the congressional defense committees the report submitted by the Comptroller General to the Secretary under subsection (d). (2) IMPLEMENTATION OF MODIFICATIONS.—If the report under paragraph (1) includes recommendations of the Comptroller General for modifications of the current system of differential payments to children’s hospitals or of payments for obstetrical care services, the Secretary shall transmit with the report— (A) a proposal for such legislative or administration action as may be required to implement such modifications; and (B) an assessment and estimate of the costs associated with the implementation of such modifications. (f) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: (1) DIFFERENTIAL PAYMENTS TO CHILDREN’S HOSPITALS.— The term ‘‘differential payments to children’s hospitals’’ means the additional amounts paid to children’s hospitals under the

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